The Fourth Chair

Title: The Fourth Chair

Characters:

ELIAS (70s): A man meticulously setting a dinner table, traditional, slightly nervous.

SARAH (70s): His wife, practical, warm, carrying a bowl of salad.

Setting:

A warm, inviting dining room. A table is set for three people.

(SARAH enters from the kitchen, carrying a large wooden salad bowl. ELIAS is already at the table, adjusting the placement of a fork by millimeters.)

SARAH: (Smiling) Elias, darling, the guests will be here in twenty minutes. Are you trying to measure the exact distance to the moon with that fork?

ELIAS: (Startled, turns) Sarah. Perfection is in the details. They've traveled a long way. They deserve perfection.

SARAH: (Puts the bowl down) They deserve a warm welcome, not a military inspection. Sit down.

(Sarah notices something on the table.)

SARAH: Elias... you've set a fourth place.

(Elias stops adjusting a napkin. He clears his throat, avoiding her eyes.)

ELIAS: Habit, I suppose. Just a habit. We’ve been a family of four for forty years.

SARAH: The children are grown, darling. Tom and Lucy are bringing their own spouses and little ones tomorrow. Tonight, it's just the four of us: you, me, David, and Anya.

ELIAS: (Stiffly) just a spare. In case someone unexpected drops by. A neighbor.

SARAH: (Gently places a hand on his arm) No one drops by the dinner table unannounced anymore, Elias. It's for Ben, isn't it?

(Elias doesn't respond. He just keeps staring at the empty fourth chair and the pristine place setting.)

SARAH: He's gone, Elias. It’s been five years since the accident.

ELIAS: just... hate seeing that chair empty, Sarah. It feels like we're forgetting him. Erasing his spot at the table.

SARAH: (She takes the fourth plate and places it gently on the sideboard) We will never forget him. He is in every story we tell, in our grandchildren's eyes. But this... (She gestures to the empty spot now) This just makes the evening sad.

(Elias looks at the now-vacant spot. He sighs, the tension leaving his shoulders. He looks older now, vulnerable.)

ELIAS: just want him here.

SARAH: know. I do too. But we have to be here, for David and Anya. We have to live for the ones who are here now.

(Elias nods slowly. He picks up the removed fork and walks to the kitchen door.)

ELIAS: The chicken needs a little longer. (He pauses, looks at Sarah, a small, sad smile) The table looks nice with three place settings.

SARAH: (Smiling at him) Yes, it does.

(Elias exits to the kitchen. Sarah stands for a moment, looking at the empty space, a tear in her eye, then she takes the chair away completely and turns on a small lamp.)

(Fade out)